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Recent scientific research has uncovered several genetic variants linked to an increase in the risk of glioma.

The deCODEme Genetic Scan identifies these genetic variants and uses them to provide a personalized interpretation of their genetic risk for developing glioma.

Knowing your genetic risk for gliomas means knowing more about your overall risk for developing this rare and difficult to treat disease

The cause of most gliomas is still unknown

In spite of extensive research efforts aimed at identifying risk factors for primary brain cancer, the cause of most primary brain tumors is still unknown. The only well-documented risk factor for primary brain tumors is ionizing radiation, such as in radiation therapy applied to the head during the treatment of other types of cancers. For example, children with leukemia who receive brain radiation therapy are at a higher risk of developing a brain tumor later in life (see for example Neglia et al, 2006).

The only known environmental risk factor for gliomas is ionizing radiation

At present, the only well-documented risk factors for gliomas is ionizing radiation, such as the therapeutic radiation mentioned above. Other potential risk factors observed are:

• Age and gender: In adults, primary brain tumors occur more often in males than in females and are most common in middle-aged to older persons.
• Ethnicity: individuals of European descent are more likely to develop primary brain tumors than people of other ethnicities.
• Occupation: Workers in jobs that entail repeated contact with ionizing radiation or certain chemicals, including some that are used to manufacture building supplies, plastics and textiles, have been found to have a greater chance of developing brain tumors.
• Other factors: The impact of cell phone use has been carefully studied, but to date has not been found to increase the risk of malignant gliomas. Researchers continue to examine the impact of other environmental factors, such as head injuries, certain infections, or exposure to certain chemicals or magnetic fields. To date, no such links have been established, but additional research is needed.

Gliomas are thought to develop due to interactions between genes and toxins

It is thought that most brain tumors can be traced to interactions between genes and toxins. Recent scientific research has uncovered several genetic variants linked to an increase in the risk of glioma. These genetic variants are found on chromosomes 5, 8, 9 and 20 (see Shete et al, 2009). Interestingly, the genetic variant on chromosome 9 is near to the genes CDKN2A and CDKN2B, which help suppress the development of malignant cells. This raises the possibility that the chromosome 9 variant somehow impairs this important function.

deCODEme calculates your genetic risk for developing glioma

The deCODEme Genetic Scan identifies the genetic variants listed above and uses them to provide customers of European descent with a personalized interpretation of their genetic risk for developing glioma. At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for people of other ethnicities is not available. This information will be added as soon as it becomes available and we are assured of its quality.

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

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